Three Months On, 28 Bodies Of Odisha Train Tragedy Victims Still Lying Unclaimed

Bhubaneswar: Three months after triple train tragedy in Balasore Bahanaga, 28 bodies are still lying unclaimed in containers at AIIMS in Odisha capital.

Speaking to the media on Monday, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar Superintendent Dilip Parida said that no claimant has turned up at the hospital in the last 10 days. “We are waiting for instructions from the Ministry of Railways and the Odisha government for further process. The bodies will be handed over to the CBI since it is investigating the case,” he said.

He added that the bodies are being preserved in deep freezer. AIIMS-Bhubaneswar had procured at least five deep freezer containers from Paradip Port to prevent further decay of the mortal remains of the deceased.

Notably, the premier health facility had received 162 bodies and 81 were handed over to their family members in the first phase. DNA samples of around 100 bodies as well as claimants were sent to New Delhi for matching due to multiple claimants and a few other issues. On the basis of DNA test results, 52 more bodies were then despatched to their families. Till August 1, 29 bodies remained unclaimed.

The June 2 train crash, involving Chennai-bound Coromandel Express from Shalimar, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and a stationary goods train, claimed 293 lives with six passengers succumbing to injuries while undergoing treatment in past few days.